Wells Cathedral — Attraction in Wells

A lovely building and guess what Dog Friendly too, lot's of Cathedral's and Churches ban them but that's a human law l am sure God loves everyone. It's not really donation of a minimum £8 they ask for at the door you will not get past the reception desk , they say it's not an entry fee the building needs to be maintained, l think they should be more honest and call it a Ticket price and up the cost to £15. We met a friendly lady in a wheelchair and she looked like clergy anyway made a fuss of the Puggies and gave them a treat, how lovely is that never had such a lovely welcome. Gave us a few tips to look out for during our visit, certainly the most friendly guide l have met, she was scared of a spider behind her which was funny as they are God's creatures too. Can't wait to return always something new to see. I am updating my review as l have lived in the area for a couple of years now and l have a membership pass for local people, it's not free and it's an annual fee, although the Reception doesn't seem to care about checking, more about getting more income to support the Cathedral from the tourist, it's becoming very pricey l must admit trying to support the Bishop's Palace too l can imagine if you have a family, it will cost upwards of £40 odd and to include the Bishop's Palace, beyond £100. I can well imagine the donations do not cover the upkeep and l expect most of the staff are volunteering pensioners, in fact the City of Wells is run by the goodness of the older community and are not given enough credit for their loyalty. I have since discovered the Cathedral staff mostly are not friendly or helpful, in fact at the G4 concert they were very rude to think they had a free ticket and the toilets situation was terrible and l do not think they should be allowed to hold these concerts if they can not handle the amount of people who have paid good money, the infrastructure doesn't support that many people. No parking, you will be fighting with the traffic Warden's so do not risk it. So to sum up be more honest a Ticket not a Donation, maybe you are hoping for double at least and Vet the Cathedral staff, not just friends with someone connected, l have removed 2 stars because of the rudeness, it's a shame as its a...

We visited Wells Cathedral on the recommendation of a former Wells Cathedral School student, and we enjoyed our time immensely. On entry one is struck by the magnificent 14th Century Scissors Arches that support the tower, then as one looks at the walls, that the cathedral is almost completely Early English Gothic style. Intricate carvings, some amusing (a man working to remove a thorn from his foot, someone with a toothache) are found everywhere. An amazing 14th Century astronomical clock - the second oldest in England - still works and marks quarter hours with a figure named Jack Blandifers striking bells with his hand and both feet while a set of knights on horseback joust each other. The north side of the cathedral holds the Chapter House, an absolutely stunning octagon with soaring fan vaulting and terrific acoustics. Outside, the West Front, which contains about 300 sculpted figures is currently undergoing restoration work, and because of this, much of the surface is hidden behind scaffolding while the stonemasons do their bit. Practical details: Admission when we visited was £15.00, with kids free. One can also purchase a Joint Ticket that includes entry to the adjacent Bishop’s Palace and Gardens. There is a nice café and well-stocked gift shop. Volunteer “Highlights” tours are available, and we spent an excellent hour with Mark. Parking was initially a bit of a challenge, but we eventually found space along side the Cathedral Green. Other parking options are...

Stunning cathedral with a unique scissor arch design supporting the tower. A real work of art and one of the most magnificent cathedrals I've visited. The cathedral is notable for its beautifully decorated exterior, with a Gothic design inspired by French cathedral architecture. Today, it retains around 300 medieval statues. Inside, significant features include the 14th century stained glass Jesse window, historic clock believed to have the second oldest working movement in the UK, and aforementioned scissor arches. These unique arches were installed in the mid 14th century as an innovative solution to support the tower, overcoming the issue of unstable foundations. It's worth waiting to see the clock chime, with its theatrical display of jousting knights, which happens every 15 minutes. The cathedral is open 7 days a week, and tickets were £14 at the time of my visit. Not cheap, but worth the cost to see such a magnificent building. QR code links to a mobile audio guide were provided at the entrance. There are also information boards located around the cathedral covering important details. Facilities include a gift shop, café and toilets. Familiarise yourself with the times of services before visiting, as parts of the cathedral are closed to visitors while they take place, which wasn't made clear by the staff at the...